Basque nationalists issue challenge to Madrid

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Rival Basque nationalist groups have set aside their differences
to push a controversial bill through the regional parliament making
increased independence for the region a real possibility - and a
showdown with the Spanish Government almost inevitable.

The 75-seat Basque parliament approved the so-called Ibarretxe
plan by the narrowest of margins after a last minute U-turn by the
separatists. The plan, on which nationalists now hope to hold a
referendum in the Basque region, proposes a model of free
association for the Basque nation within the Spanish state.

Both Spain's main political parties oppose the plan because they
say it runs counter to the country's constitution.

Early on Thursday the tripartite coalition led by the moderate
Basque nationalists was two votes short of the outright majority it
required to pass the bill. With the Socialists and the People's
Party united for once in their opposition to the plans, the result
hinged on the votes of the separatist group.

The separatists had previously opposed the plan because it does
not include the Spanish region of Navarre or the three Basque
provinces in south-western France.

However, late in the afternoon the separatist leader Arnaldo
Otegi announced three of his deputies would vote in favour of the
plan, giving the nationalists the majority they needed.

Mr Otegi said his members were not supporting the plan to force
the Government's hand to accept it, but to enable discussion on the
region's future to keep moving forward.

The plan will now go to the national parliament, where it is
almost certain to be thrown out because of the opposition of the
two main parties. But nationalists hope Thursday's result will put
pressure on the Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, to
accede to calls for a referendum.

Josu Erkoreka, a spokesman for the moderate nationalists, said
that if the Government refused to call a referendum it would
compromise its democratic mandate.

The nationalists still face considerable opposition in
Madrid.

Enrique Lopez, a spokesperson for the Spanish judicial council,
said it was unlikely the plan would ever come into effect because
it would require changes to the Spanish constitution.

Gabriel Cisneros, a People's Party deputy, said any concessions
from Mr Zapatero's government would be seen as a sign of weakness.
Spain took a big step to becoming the third country, after
Belgium and the Netherlands, to legalise gay marriage when the
Government on Thursday approved a draft law to give gay couples
rights to marry, divorce and adopt children.

Despite strong criticism from Spain's powerful Catholic Church,
the cabinet approved a draft text that would give gay couples the
same rights as their heterosexual counterparts, including
inheritance and pension benefits.

The bill, little changed from an earlier draft in October, will
now be sent to parliament, where it is expected to pass
comfortably.